Here is the summary for budget 2012, which is certainly a foretaste of the goodies that we will receive as the general election looms next year. The stock market is not so bright and an upcoming recession really gives the incentive for the ruling government to give out more good news.

Most goodies impact the civil servant which actually make up a huge percentage of the Malaysian populace. (With 1.3 million civil servants to a population of 26 million, Malaysia has one of the highest civil servants-to-population ratio in the world) I wonder why is there no tax relief targeted for the middle income people like me and also perhaps a Buffet tax on the rich.

Highlighted bold what i am interested at.

Private schools registered with the Ministry of Education will be given incentives including an Investment Tax Allowance.

We will abolish payments for primary and secondary education, making these free for the first time in our history

RM1bn will be provided through a special fund for the construction, improvement and maintenance of schools.

RM50.2bn will be allocated to the education sector so that it can continue to develop talented, creative and innovative people.

To enable SMEs to commercialise research products a Commercialisation Innovation Fund totalling RM500mln will be established.

The Govt has allocated RM100mln promote innovation including the 1Malaysia Award (C1PTA) for innovative student inventions.

Budget focuses on developing human capital, creativity and innovation and 2012 will be the National Innovation Movement year.

The real property gains tax will be reviewed so it doesn’t jeopardise the ability of low- and middle-income groups to buy homes. (Kris: Another attempt to boost the sagging property bubble in Malaysia?)

The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council will be privatised to promote and develop Malaysia as a healthcare destination.

To promote tourism the Langkawi Five Year Tourism Development Master Plan will be launched with an allocation of RM420mln.

Full exemption of import duty and excise duty on hybrid cars and electric cars will continue to be given until 2013.

A RM2bn shariah-compliant SME Financing Fund managed by selected Islamic banks will be established in 2012.

FELDA settlers are expected to receive a windfall, and the amount will be announced before listing.

FELDA GVH will be listed on Bursa Malaysia by mid-2012 to raise funds for the company to become a global conglomerate.

To promote the development of Exchange Traded Funds products I-VCAP will provide RM200mln for Shariah-compliant ETFs.

Income tax exemptions for non-ringgit sukuk issuance and transactions will be extended for another 3 years. (As the economy weakens, expect more sukuk issuance from the government to solicit more money)

RM3,000 will be given to ex-members of the special constable and auxiliary police as well as widows and widowers.

A special programme will be introduced for 175,000 army personnel who are not eligible for pensions.

To encourage private sector human capital development incentives including a double deduction on scholarships will be offered.

The Government will expedite tax exemption approvals for educational institutions and all places of worship.

SARA 1Malaysia will benefit 100,000 households with income below RM3,000 per month.

Hospital Kuala Lumpur – the oldest in Malaysia – will be upgraded to be the country’s premier hospital.

Hospitals will be upgraded and constructed as well 81 rural health clinics upgraded and 50 new 1Malaysia clinics launched.

Healthcare will be allocated RM15bn operating expenditure and RM1.8bn development expenditure.

The Government will establish the Special Housing Fund for Fishermen to build and refurbish houses.

The Government will continue to implement the Program Perumahan Rakyat by building 75,000 units of affordable houses.

The Government will identify areas in the vicinity of MRT, LRT and other public transport to be developed by PR1MA.

The My First Home Scheme will be expanded to increase the limit of house prices from a maximum of RM220,000 to RM400,000. (This will solely depend on the banks discretion although there is a direction from the government. Not sure what is the maximum income allowed for a person to apply this loan. If the ceiling is not raised, I don't think the banks will want to loan out RM400K for a person that only has a gross income of RM3,000. (The person still need to eat after all)

500,000 will benefit from KAR1SMA, which provides assistance to poor senior citizens and children and disabled people.

In the spirit of “People First,” all subsidies, incentives and assistance totalling RM33.2bn will be continued.”

The National Agro-Food Policy 2011-2020 will be launched and RM1.1bn allocated for the development of the agriculture sector. ( I think this is the correct move, we need to go back to agriculture to reduce imports and control the food prices)

The Government is mindful of the plight of the rakyat due to rising food prices and will take measures to address this.

Civil servants will be given an additional bonus of half-month salary and pensioners RM500.

Book voucher worth RM200 will be given to Malaysian students in all private and public institutions of higher learning.

One-off assistance of RM500 to households with a monthly income of RM3,000 and below will be provided. (Free money!! Not sure how is this going to be implemented!?. I think a tax rebate will be easier :P)

A Flood Mitigation Plan will be implemented in Perlis, Perak and Johor to help 4 million rakyat residing in flood-prone areas.

To ensure the welfare of retirees measures including a tax relief on Private Retirement Schemes contributions are introduced.

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comments

Agree with you. I too wonder why Najib seem to forget the middle income people of a private sectors. Year in-out ,the focus always on civil servant.Nothing about minimum wage, retirement age or economic incentive for people like us being thought of.I'm expecting some income tax reduction and relief but what a "thumb-down". Goverment using EPF fund as their cheap "sure-cash" source of fund but forgot whos money is that.Not even a cent for the contributor's benefit.Do civil servant have that kind of contribution fund to our economy? Harap pencen lebih adalaa...Overall,good for those group that got to his attention but certainly not to me, a middle-class private sector workers.

Middle class people in the private sector is the one paying the most taxes (no way to evade taxes) and seems no tax relief for us even as election looms.

Anonymous
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8:30 PM

agree with you Kris...middle class will be the most impacted...super rich will get richer while the poor gets all the goodies...so now super rich can get cheap labour of the interns and gain more tax incentives!!!!

And I noticed that last year, the LHDN started to "aggresively" audit tax submissions.

Quite a number of my fellow engineer colleagues, got the dreaded callup from them.

So keep all your files in shape, & hope you don't get the call.

I guess now they picking up on middle income ppl. I wonder what happen if they audit the super rich. I bet alot of tax evasion & leakage happens to that group since they largely self-employed aka do business.

For middle income salaried worker, there is no way to evade taxes!! Your salary got deducted to pay tax even before it reach your bank account!! lol

Kris, you are right. Last year, LHDN started to "aggresively" audit tax submissions. Did you realize also government collected more taxes in year 2011 compare to estimated? I believe in near future they will be more aggressive in doing audit.